Wednesday, November 20, 2013

McGuigan patriarch celebrates his century

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Congratulatory messages from dignitaries including the Queen, Governor-General and the Prime Minister have arrived in time for Perce McGuigan’s biggest celebration – his 100th birthday.
Mr McGuigan devoted more than 30 years of his life to ­winemaking and started the McGuigan dynasty which his sons Brian and Neil have carried on.

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Past and present winemakers will gather at Pokolbin on Sunday to celebrate Mr McGuigan’s birthday and he cannot wait to meet the people who are carrying on the winemaking ­tradition.

“In 1941 when I started in the industry there were nine winemakers in the Hunter Valley and these days there would be over 100,” he said.